Church's fate in advocates' hands as demolition nears

Demolition set for May if no offer is accepted

Published 6:30 am, Friday, February 12, 2010

Congregation president Ken Bakenhus checks ﻿damage done over the years in the main sanctuary of the historic Immanuel Lutheran Church at 15th and Cortlandt.

Congregation president Ken Bakenhus checks ﻿damage done over the years in the main sanctuary of the historic Immanuel Lutheran Church at 15th and Cortlandt.

Photo: Gary Fountain, Chronicle

Church's fate in advocates' hands as demolition nears

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With the clock ticking toward May demolition of its unused Houston Heights sanctuary, Immanuel Lutheran Church's governing body has rejected a plan to save the historic building by leasing it for use as a museum of Texas art.

But even as gallery owner Gus Kopriva's proposal bit the dust, the board this week agreed to hear other proposals to refurbish the 1932-vintage structure at 1448 Cortlandt — provided the church would retain control over how the building is used.

Preservationists on Friday said plans are under way to raise funds to rehab the striking Gothic Revival building, which was last used for church functions 30 years ago.

Already, said Minnette Boesel, the mayor's cultural affairs assistant, contractors have examined the building to assess its most pressing repair needs. Some contractors, she said, might be willing to donate materials for needed fixes.

Advocates for the building, including the Houston Heights Neighborhood Association, have yet to submit a formal plan for restoration. “When they are ready to make their presentation, there will be a little more detail on how things are going to happen,” Boesel said.

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Ken Bakenhus, president of the church's governing board, said razing the sanctuary was delayed until May to give preservation advocates a chance to submit proposals.

The endangered sanctuary, which was replaced by a new building in the 1960s, is a designated city historic site and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Neither designation preserves it from demolition.

Bakenhus labeled as untrue a Friday press statement from City Council members Edward Gonzalez, whose district includes the church, and Sue Lovell, head of the city's historic preservation committee, that claimed the sanctuary would be preserved as a Lutheran museum.

Lovell spokesman Tim Brookover said the councilwoman's office received a report from a preservationist attending the meeting that there had “been a lot of talk about a Lutheran museum” and presumed the church group approved the plan.

Though informally discussed, such a proposal has not been formally presented to the governing board, Backenhus said.